Job overview
Do you want to work in a team which has just secured a place in CWP’s “Book of Best Practice” 2024 / 2025 due to showing exemplary practice in the following areas: improving health equity and reducing inequalities, providing the best outcomes through great care, and working with our partners for our population? If so, we may have just the role for you!
We are seeking to recruit to a highly motivated and organised Nurse (RMN or RNLD) to the Dual Diagnosis Service which is based in and alongside the Cheshire Probation Service.
A strong knowledge base in working with individuals with a learning disability, mental health conditions and neurodevelopmental disorders is desirable, and you must be comfortable working with people who have a forensic history.
The role is based at Crewe Probation Office and Macclesfield Police Station. However, the post holder will be expected to travel across the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust footprint. The post is subjected to Enhanced Police Vetting, due to one of the offices being in the police station. If you think that this may be problematic for whatever reason, please reach out before interview for a discussion.
This is a temporary opportunity for internal (Substantive or Bank) applicants only.
Please note:
The post is temporary until 30th April 2026 due to limited funding. At the end of the temporary contract, the successful applicant will return to their substantive contract or return to CWP Bank. It is important to note that if longer-term or permanent funding is secured, the post will be advertised to both internal and external applicants.
Main duties of the job
The team offer a consultation and formulation service; to those on probation who are struggling to get access to health services.
You would work with people who have trauma, mental illness, learning disabilities, autism spectrum condition, ADHD, and other vulnerabilities.
The team aims to reduce health inequalities for people on probation by reducing barriers, challenging discrimination, and providing education and training to probation staff and other services. The team work closely with probation staff, substance misuse services, housing teams, the police, and community health services.
The successful individual will need to demonstrate a high level of clinical competency in evidence-based risk assessment and formulation, to support pathway management, public protection and service user outcomes.
The post holder will require excellent communication skills and should be able to work both autonomously and within a multi-disciplinary team.
Working for our organisation
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.
We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton and Liverpool.
Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.
As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you’ll find something to suit you at CWP.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see ‘documents to download’ section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Appropriate professional registration/qualification
* Academic qualification in relevant subject.
* Training in risk assessment and risk management.
* Professional knowledge in relation to substance misuse/dual diagnosis acquired via degree, experience/CPD
* Mentorship qualified
* Working towards 2nd degree (Masters or equivalent) in relevant subject area.
Desirable criteria
* Training in relevant assessment and intervention approaches (i.e. behavioural, CBT etc.)
* Leadership training.
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential criteria
* Knowledge of research and audit.
* Current working knowledge of criminal justice legislation and services including function, purpose and philosophy
* Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team setting and liaise across professional boundaries
* Sound knowledge of dual diagnosis and associated complexities
Desirable criteria
* Knowledge of legal frameworks (MHA 1983) and application to people with a mental illness/learning disability.
Experience
Essential criteria
* Evidence of a good level of post qualification experience working with complex vulnerabilities and diagnostics with a forensic history in community or inpatient settings.
* Experience of undertaking comprehensive mental health and substance misuse assessments, including risk assessment and care planning techniques
* Experience of working within mental health and substance misuse services and delivering evidenced based interventions to support risk management and recovery
* Delivery of training to groups and individuals.
* Undertaking audit/ service evaluation.
Desirable criteria
* Delivery of training in forensic issues
* Undertaking research